Pottery mold



' 2 Sheets$heem 1, J. TAMS.

POTTERY MOLD.

(No Model.)

No. 285,321. Patentd Sept. 18, 1883.

Fig. I.

Invenlor:

(/AMES 7314/8 Wi l nesses I NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES TAMS, or OHAMBERSBURG, NEW JERSEY.

POTTERY-MOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,821, datedSeptember 18, 1883.

' Application filed June 22, 1883. (No model.)

specification.

This invention relates to the production of hollow articles of crockery,china, and like wares, from dust-clay, blood, and sawdust, and other drypulverous or granular materials, by means of compressing-molds ormoldingdies.

Heretofore it has been practically impossible to manufacture serviceablehollow ware of such materials by means of molds or dies, owing to theirregular distribution of the material on or in'the lower mold orbed-die by known means, and the fact that any such irregularityrenderedthe walls of the vessel of unequal density when compressed in the moldsor dies, and consequently incapable of enduring expansion andcontraction by heat and cold.

The present invention consists in devices or apparatus, hereinafterdescribed and claimed, whereby I am enabled to overcome the difficultyabove set forth, and to produce a good and durable article of hollowware from said pulverous or granular materials, or either of them, withfacility and uniformity of result, the product being of equal density atall points, with any required variation in relative thickness and depth.1

Two sheets of drawings accompany this specification as part hereof. OnSheet 1, Figure 1 is a perspective vertical section of a set ofpottery-molds illustrating this invention. Figs. 1 and 1 representvertical sections through the lower mold or bed-die, illustrating themode of operation, and Fig 1 is abottom view 'of the inner gage-mold,seen in relation to the main molds or dies in Figs. 1 and 1. On Sheet 2,Fig. 2 is a perspective vertical section of another set ofpottery-molds, illustrating a modification of this invention, and Fig.2- is a bottom view of the gage-mold of this set detached.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

A A may represent upper compressingmolds or molding-dies, and B Bcounterpart lower molds or bed-dies, of ordinary construc tion.

O 0 represent gage-molds, which I combine with said lower molds orbed-dies for accomplishing the object hereinafter set forth.

D D represent vertical rods or stems by which the upper molds or dies, AA", are supported and worked, and which may be the extremities ofcompressingscrews, or be reciprocated by any approved press-gear.

E E represent rods or stems extending downward from the bottom of therespective sunken, and adapted to form the exterior of 7 an article ofhollow ware molded or com pressed between these dies. Said lower mold orbed-die is supplemented by a distinct bottom or riser, B, supportedaround its margin beneath by a flange, f, projecting inwardly from thecentral aperture of said lower mold or bed-die, and centrally by saiddepending rod or stem E. The upper surface of said bottom B isconstructed with a marginal depression, (1, arranged to form a foot-rimon the molded or compressed article, and which, furthermore, coaets withstud-pins p on the bottom of said gage-mold C, so as to facilitatelocating the latter centrally within said lower mold or bed-die. Thereare four of these pins in the example. Three or any greater number willanswer the purpose, or equivalents of said pins and groove may be used.Said gage-mold is, furthermore, provided with a pair of handle-ears, h,at its upper edge, by which to handle it. Said gage-mold G is soproportioned to the lower mold or bed-die, B, within which it isarranged, as shown in Figs. 1, 1, that the space within said gage-moldholds enough of the pulverous or granular materialto form the bottom ofthe article which is to be molded or compressed, and the space aroundsaid gagemold within the lower mold or beddie, B, holds the properquantity of said material to form the circumferential walls or sides ofthe article.

In practice I have found that dust-clay occupies about twice the spaceuncompressed that it does when solidified or compressed. The molds foruse in molding dust-clay are consequently proportioned accordingly,whichwould give the interior of the gage-mold O a capacity of twice thecubical volume of the bottom of the article to be produced, and theannular space around the gage-mold a capacity of twice the cubicalvolume of the side walls of the product, or th ereabout. The differencesin bulk between compressed and uncompressed pulverous or granularmaterials of other kinds maybe readily ascertained by experiment and themolds gaged accordingly.

The upper mold or die, A, being in its elevated position and the moldbottom or riser B in its lowered position, the upper surface of thelatter and the inner surface of the mold or die B are slightly oiled, toprevent any adhesion of the article to be molded or eompressed, and saidgage-mold C is then inserted, as shown in Fig. 1. Said spaces within andaround said gage-mold are now loosely filled with the pulverous orgranular material to be molded or compressed, and any surplus is brushedoff, leaving the molds evenlyfilled, as represented by Fig. 1. Saidgage-mold O is then lifted verticall y and removed, by means of itshandles h 7:,with as little disturbance to the material left within themold B as possible, and the distribution of the material within the moldB is completed by means of the fingers or a suitable tool, asillustrated by Fig. 1. In doing the latter it is only necessary tospread out the material left by the interior or central measuring-spaceof said gage-mold so that it shall evenly cover the bottom B, thematerial for the side walls of the article falling down naturally toabout the extent required,while it will retain its position sufficientlyto preserve the requisite depth or thickness withuniformityinitsupperpart. Theuppermold ordie,A, is now lowered, and thematerial is compressed with sufficient force to solidify it in the shapedetermined by the space between the molds or dies A B and themold-bottom B. The upper mold or die is then re-elevated by means of thepress-gear, and, finally, said bottom B is elevated by depressing theouter end of said treadle F, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 1,so as to support the compressed article in elevated position, clear ofthe walls of the mold or die B, to facilitate the removal of the articlein customary manner.

In the modification illustrated by Sheet 2 of the drawings, the uppermold or die, A is the intaglio or outer die, and the lower mold orbed-die, B is the inner or cameo mold or die, and takes the place of, orobviates the employment of, said bottom'or riser B of the set of moldsfirst described. It is supported centrally bysaid depending rod or stemE and around its margin by an inward extension, 6,

of a curb or supporting-die,X,having cylindri supporting-die, havingaperipheral flange, f

to rest upon the top of said supporting-die, and an inner surfacematching the circumferential walls or sides of said mold or die B When.this gage-mold C is in position within said supportingdie X, as seen inFig. 2, a space is formed around and above said mold or die Bsubstantially of the exact shape of the article to be produced, but ofgreater thickness and depth proportioned to the compressibility of thematerial which is to be molded or compressed. Said material is nowsifted or otherwise loosely filled upon and around the lower mold orbed-die and brushed off even with the top of said gage-mold. The latteris then steadily lifted, leaving the said material in proper position tobe acted upon by the upper and outer mold or die, A The latter is nowlowered and re-elevated, and the molded or compressed article is liftedclear of said supporting-die X, so as to be readily taken hold of bypressing upon said treadle F, as in the operation first described.

The respective main molds or molding-dies A B A B", with the saidsupportingdie X, will be made of iron or steel, in the customary manner,or of like strong and rigid substances,

and of suitable proportions for sustaining and resisting the pressurerequisite to solidify or compress the pulverous or granular material. tobe acted upon. The said gage-molds C C may be made of suitable wood orthe like, re quiring simply to be of proper shape and dimensions, withsmooth surfaces, and light enough to be handled readily. The other partsof the apparatus shown in the drawings may be of any approveddescription suited to their respective functions.

The object aimed at or sought to be accomplished by the use of saidgage-molds, or either of them, is to apportion. or distribute drypulverous or granular material between compress ing-molds ormolding-dies by means which insure a correct distribution thereof, sothat the same shall form, when solidified or compressed, good hollowware of even character, quality, and form, and more particularly of evendensity in its respective parts, as hereinbefore set forth. It will beobvious that this object can be accomplished by various forms ofgagemolds and equivalent tools or devices, either by excluding surplusmaterial, as in the example selected for illustration, or by the removalof surplus material from the lower molds or bed-dies, and themodification of said gagemolds to any desired extent within the limitsof the object above stated is contemplated and intended. I

The particular articles of hollow ware which will be produced by therespective sets of molds or dies shown in the drawings, as aforesaid,

are deep round pans or dishes suitable for various culinary or householduses. These are shown, however, merely as examples. Various articles ofhollow ware in known or desirable forms or shapessquare, ob'long, oroval, as well as roundmay be produced in molds or dies adapted to admita gage-mold or its equivalent and its withdrawal previous to the anequivalent tool or device, for apportioning and distributing pulverousor granular mate rial between said compressing-molds or mold ing-diespreliminary to the compressing operation, substantially as hereinspecified, for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with a horizontal compressing-mold or bed-die adaptedto receive the same, the within-described gage-mold 0, consisting of acylindrical or substantially cy? lindrical ring, having an internalmeasuringspace, and serving, in combination with the outer walls of saidcompressing-mold or bed-die, to form an annular space of specificcapacity around said gage-mold, substantially as herein specified, forthe purpose set forth.

3. I11 combination with the horizontal compressing-mold or bed-die B andits removable bottom or riser B, the latter constructed with an annulargroove or depression, d, the gagemold 0, provided 011 its bottom withstud-pins 19, adapted to coact with the inner walls of said groove ordepression, for the purpose set forth.

JAMES TAMS.

Witnesses:

F. O. LowTHoRr, Jr. JoHN A. STEEN.

